Lastly, guardianship is governed, according to Salvadoran law, by the principle of subsidiarity and the extended family; in other words, relatives with full legal capacity are required to act as guardians of children or persons without legal capacity and this duty may only be performed by other persons who meet the judicial requirements and who consent to act as guardians in the absence of relatives of the child or person without legal capacity.
Finalmente, en lo referente a los tutores del menor la ley regula que esta figura se rige por el principio de subsidiariedad y de familia extendida, es decir, que están obligados a desempeñar la tutela del menor o incapaz, los parientes que sean plenamente capaces; y solamente a falta de parientes del menor o incapaz, podrá ejercer el cargo de tutor cualquier persona que cumpliere los requisitos legales y consienta en ello.